How much should I tip my barber?

Should it be a % of the bill?

Should I just round it up?

Should I just pass him the smallest note I can find in my wallet?

Or should I tip at all?

First thing first, the origin.

We will keep this one neat and sweet.

(if you wish, do a google search like we but here's a summary for your convenience).

One school of thought claims that Tip is an old word that dates back to 1610

"to give or to share"

a slang commonly used among thieves that made into the English language

Later on used in 1706 in The Beau Stratagem play “Then I, Sir, tips me the Verger with half a Crown.”

Another school of thought claims that Tip(s) is actually an acronym.

To Insure Prompt Service

To Insure Promptness

To Insure Performance

(In this case - it would have meant tipping before you get the service - to grease the server to ensure you get top-notch services - but if the money is already in the pocket, where is the incentive?)

It could also be both - but it doesn’t really matter.

Either way, it means the same thing: a gift or sum of money tendered for a service performed or anticipated.

So let's get back to the answer you came here for.

IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU

Whether it be 10% or 20% of the total service bill,

or round up and tell them to "keep the change"

or slip a 50 HKD / 100 HKD note to your favourite barber.

Don't ever feel obligated to tip.

Sure, IT IS a very nice gesture - besides, who doesn't want money?

You should only tip because

you want to

the barber did a great job

you are satisfied with your experience

There are 43 states in the US where restaurants don't need to follow the Federal minimum wage requirement.

In this case, those waiters/waitresses NEED tips to survive.

Luckily, we are protected by the Minimum Wage Ordinance here in Hong Kong.

So no, you really don't need to tip us.

You are not going to get a crappier haircut if you don’t tip.

We are not going to deliberately be ‘un-prompt’ for your next haircut.

Barbers shouldn't be EXPECTING you to tip

But why do some people tip anyway?

It's is their way of saying - Thank you, keep up the good work.

P.S. - if you are a great barber and you do not agree with not expecting clients to tip, send us a job application.

Time for you to get a job with better pay.